Methods and apparatus for the treatment of threads and yarns



Sept. 28, 1954 w LQWE APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT METHODS AND OF THREADS AND YARNS Filed June 7, 1949 \j% f INVENTOR. W/LL/AM B LOWE Patented Sept. 28, 1954 METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF THREADS AND YARNS William B. Lowe, Chester, Pa., assignor to American Viscose Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a

corporation of Delaware Application June 7, 1949, Serial No. 97,574

6 Claims.

This invention relates to methods and apparatus for the liquid treatment of continuous filamentary material, such as threads and yarns of natural or artificial fibers or filaments, while continuously advancing such material through a plurality of laterally spaced convolutions, preferably disposed for forming a generally helical path. This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application Serial No. 523,402, filed February 22, 1944, now U. S. Patent 2,582,293, issued January 15, 1952.

It is the general object of the present invention to provide methods and apparatus for the treatment of continuous threads or the like with liquids by passing the threads in succession through a plurality of laterally spaced convolutions about one or more cylindrical members, applying at least two different liquids to successive groups of the convolutions in separate spaced zones and then blowing surplus liquid outwardly from the convolutions as they pass between the liquid treatment zones so as to prevent such surplus liquid from one zone being carried into and mixed with the liquid of the adjacent zone. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the drawing and the description thereof hereinafter.

In the drawing- Figure l is a side elevation of one embodiment of apparatus adapted to execute the invention,

Figure 2 is a section on line II--II of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a side view of a modification,

Figure 4 is a section on line IV-IV of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is the upper half of a longitudinal section through a reel embodying the present invention, and

Figure 6 is a section on line VIVI of Figure 5.

In Figures 1 and 2, the invention is shown as applied to a thread-advancing device comprising two rotatable members 3 and t. Each of these members comprises a hollow drum closed at the ends and mounted upon a shaft 5 for rotation therewith. Each of the shafts has an axial bore 6 communicating with axial bores or slits l. Conduits 8 and 9 may be provided to deliver any number of different liquids to axially spaced zones of the thread-advancing device and each of these zones is flanked at each end by an annular row of openings [0 extending through the wall of the cylindrical members. The cylindrical members 3 and 4, as shown, may be of identical construction but are mounted on inclined axes. As shown, the axes lie in the same plane but are inclined one toward the other. If desired, however, the axes may lie in parallel planes, and

one or both may be inclined to the vertical plane of the drawing. They are thus supported upon inclined axes within a suitable support or standard II and are provided with suitable driving means 12, such as gears. A conduit l3 connected to a source of a compressed gaseous medium such as compressed air, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, or other gas, is provided with branched nozzles l4 which are adapted to introduce air or other gas under pressure into the axial bores 6 of the shafts 5 during rotation of the device.

Means is provided for receiving liquid discharged from the convolutions of the thread as a result of the blowing action of the gas discharged from nozzles It through bores 6 and l and the openings [0. Such means may surround each of the annular zones of the cylindrical members 3 and l containing the openings ill, but for convenience of lacing, it may be desirable to restrict the extent of the periphery of members 3 and 4 encompassed by the liquid-receiving means. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, in which the drums are driven in opposite directions and the thread is carried in a figure-eight lacing arrangement about the two drums, the liquidreceiving means is preferably restricted to the space within the upper loop of the figure B beneath the upper drums and in this case, similar means may be disposed beneath the lower drum. This liquid-receiving means comprises two or more shallow troughs l5 and I5 nesting in one another so that the open face of each trough is opposite a separate liquid-treating zone of the adjacent cylindrical member. Conduits IT and [8 connect the troughs to discharge conduits l9 and 20.

When the liquid-receiving means is placed about only a portion of the circumference of the cylindrical members as shown in Figures 1 and 2, it is desirable that the action of the gaseous medium be restricted to the portion of the path of revolution of the cylindrical member adjacent the liquid-receiving means, and this may be accomplished by means such as the masking member or shroud 2 l which is freely suspended about the shaft 5 Within the cylindrical member and is suitably weighted as at 22 to resist rotation by the shaft. This shroud extends about all portions of the shaft 5 provided with the bores I so as to control the discharge of gaseous medium through such bores.

Though Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the invention by showing its application to a system involving the treatment of the convolutions of thread with two liquids in succession, it is to be understood wise constructed so as to impart motion to the I liquid toward one end of the zone, either countercurrent or concurrent with the direction of travel of the convolutions through the zone. When such directional flow is provided, it may be unnecessary to have two bands of openings I between adjacent treating zones as shown in Figures 1 and 2 for the purpose of keeping the liquid from each zone separate. Again, it may be that mixing between liquids in certain of the adjacent zones is desirable and in such event, either or both of the two bands of openings between such adjacent treating zones may be omitted. It is clear that the invention is applicable whether the members 3 and #i are cylindrical or frusto-conical in shape, such as may be desired to effect a stretching of the thread or to allow shrinkage thereof during the treatments. Although the blowing action within the upper rotatable member of Figures 1 and 2 is not directed against the convolutions of threads themselves, it does remove the liquid from a band at the end of the treating zone and any liquid that is carried by the convolutions of thread down to the lower rotatable member is blown off such convolutions by the gaseous stream directed to the lower member in the vicinity of the troughs therebeneath.

In Figures 3 and 4, the construction is similar to that described hereinabove but fan means 25 is secured within the rotatable member for rotation therewith, such as by a projecting portion 5a of the shaft 5, which latter no longer needs the axial and radial bores provided in the shaft of Figures 1 and 2. In this embodiment, lacing may either be in the form of a figure-eight as in Figures 1 and 2, or in the fashion shown in Figure 4, in which case both drums are driven in the same direction. A masking plate 26 is freely rotatable upon the shaft 5, being supported thereon by the arms 21, and this plate is kept from rotation by a suitable weight 28. The masking plate has a longitudinal opening 2Q disposed within the member ta opposite liquid-receiving means comprising the troughs i5 and Hi.

In this embodiment, rotation of the members 3a and 5a which are open at their outer ends adjacent which the fan blades 25 are positioned, causes the development of increased pressure within the members so that a blast of air is caused to issue through the opening 29 and through the openings Ii] passing therebeneath, thereby clearing a band of the convolutions of excess or surplus liquid in proximity to the openings IE3.

Figures 5 and 6 show an embodiment of the invention as applied to a thread-advancing reel, such as one constructed in accordance with the teachings of U. S. Patent 2,403,031. Such a reel comprises a shaft 3&3 which may or may not be rotatable, and end flanges 3! and 32 for carrying one of the two sets of bars 33, which may conventionally be concentric with respect to the shaft. The other set of bars 34 may be mounted in conventional fashion to efiect thread-advancing action, such as eccentrically of the first set. Secured to the inner face of each flange is a member 35 provided with an annular groove 35 which communicates with a group of radiating passages 31 which fan out peripherally at 38, as clearly shown in Figure 6. The grooves 36 are in communication with a source of compressed air (not shown) through radial passages 39 extending from the axial bore Mi in the shaft 30, the air supply being carried to the bore 46 by conventional means. The bars 33 and 34 which form the reel have narrowed portions ll in the same plane as the fan-shaped openings 38 of the passages 31 in members 35. Different liquids may be supplied to the two axially spaced zones of the reel by passages Ba and 9a. Liquid-receiving means having internal guard or deflector surfaces &3, edit, adjacent and surrounding entirely each of the liquid-treating zones, comprises collecting grooves M adjacent each axial end of the treating zones for the purpose of receiving liquid blown out from the passages 37 through the bars 33 and 34 and the thread convolutions carried there about. Bores S5, at spaced intervals around the entire circumference of the grooves 44, may be provided to drain liquid collected in the grooves 44. This arrangement may be used with or without the application of suction to the collecting grooves t4 through the bores 45, but it is preferable to use such suction as well. In a reel for multi-stage liquid treatment, each liquid-treating stage may be flanked by the radial sheet of air to ensure removal of the liquid from the reel and to prevent its blowing into the next section. Each sheet of air can be obtained from the single bore in the shaft, regardless of whether the shaft rotates or not. As in the embodiments of Figures 1 to 4, means may be provided for imparting movement to the liquid in one direction toward either end of the treating zone, either countercurrent or concurrent with the movement of the convolutions therethrough. For example, the defleeting surfaces 33 and Ma may be grooved or tapered as shown in Figures 4, 5, 5a, and 7 of the above-mentioned U. S. Patent 2,582,293. As in the previous embodiments, the reel may be cylindrical or of tapered construction to stretch or allow shrinkage of th thread. This embodiment of Figures 5 and 6 may advantageouslybe used when the speed of rotation of the reel and the convolutions in the form of a helix thereabout is at such high speed as to throw the liquid outwardly therefrom by centrifugal force at all points of the periphery, and particularly when such centrifugal force is sufficient to overcome gravitational sheets in the upper parts of the convolutions. Since the liquid-receiving means comprises a guardor deflector surface about each of the liquid-treating zones, this embodiment may be used with advantage with a system for supplying liquid in sufficient quantities to gorge or completely fill the space between such deflecting surfaces 43 and 53a and the outer surfaces of the bars carrying the convolutions of thread. This system is extremely elfective when a close clearance of to of an inch is provided between the bars and the deflector surfaces 43', 43a, etc.

The processing system of the present invention may be employed for the processing with liquids of artifically produced filamentary material immediately after their formation by extrusion through spinnerets, such as in the production of regenerated cellulose rayon from viscose or cuprammonium cellulose solutions, or for the production of other types of artificial fibers or filaments by a wet procedure, such as from cellulose acetate, protein solutions, resin solutions, nylons, and the like. It is also applicable to the treatment of natural or artificial filamentary material, in the form of yarns, heavy denier muti-filament bundles for purposes entirely unrelated to the aftertreatment of freshly spun filaments. Thus, the technique may be used for the application of textile conditioning agents such as a softener, lubricants, sizes, and twist-setting agents to prepare the filamentary material for the subsequent textile fabric operations, such as weaving, knitting and the like.

In all embodiments of the invention, disposition of the rotatable members upon a generally horizontal axis is not essential. They may be disposed upon axes inclined at any angle to the horizontal including even the vertical. Furthermore, thread guides may be placed adjacent the points of approach and departure of the filamentary material with respect to the thread-advancing devices or reels to control any tendency of the material to whip from side to side or to balloon.

It is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for handling threads comprising a rotatable hollow member having a plurality of axially spaced peripheral zones about the surface of which a thread is adapted to be carried in succession through a plurality of axially spaced convolutions entering at one end of each zone and being discharged at the other end thereof, means for rotating the member, said member having a group of openings extending circumferentially in a band about the member between two of said zones that are adjacent each other, separate means adjacent said two peripheral zones of the member for applying different liquids to the thread convolutions carried about the respective zones of the member, said member having a group of openings extending circumferentially in a band about the member at a position adjacent the thread convolution entrance end of the aforesaid two zones, said member also having another group of openings extending circumferentially in a band about the member at a position adjacent the thread convolution discharge end of the aforesaid two zones, and means for introducing a gaseous medium into the member at greater than atmospheric pressure and for forcing said medium outwardly in a generally radial direction through the openings of all of the aforesaid groups.

2. Apparatus for handling threads comprising a rotatable hollow member having a plurality of axially spaced peripheral zones about the surface of which a thread is adapted to be carried in succession through a plurality of axially spaced convolutions entering at one end of each zone 6 and being discharged at the other end thereof,

a means for rotating the member, means for applying at least two diiferent liquids to the convolutions of thread, each at axially separated zones of the member, said member having a group of openings extending circumferentially about the member at each end of each zone, and means for forcing a gaseous medium outwardly in a generally radial direction through all of said openings whereby the liquid applied to each zone is blown oil the convolutions as they pass from one zone toward the next.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 comprising means outside the member opposite the openings for receiving the liquid blown off adjacent the ends of the treating zone.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 in which a stationary masking plate is provided within the member for limiting the outward flow of the gaseous medium through the openings to a predetermined segment of the path of revolution of the member and the liquid-receiving means is disposed adjacent that portion only of the path of revolution of the member adjacent said predetermined segment.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 in which the liquid-receiving means surrounds the portions of the member provided with openings.

6. A method of treating threads and the like with liquids comprising passing the thread continuously in succession through a plurality of axially spaced convolutions about a plurality of axially spaced peripheral zones of a rotatable member, applying a liquid to the convolutions on an axial zone of the member, removing surplus liquid from the thread as it passes through a band on each side of said zone by blowing the liquid, in the liquid state, outwardly from the convolutions, applying a different treating liquid to the thread as it passes through a plurality of said convolutions in another zone beyond and adjacent the aforesaid zone, and then removing surplus liquid from the thread as it passes beyond said latter zone by blowing the liquid in the liquid state outwardly from the convolutions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 764,454 Giles July 5, 1904 1,759,600 Wilshire May 20, 1930 1,766,954 Scholler June 24, 1930 1,857,987 Twiss et al May 10, 1932 2,145,281 Walters Jan. 31, 1939 2,207,739 Jordan July 16, 1940 2,309,771 Jordan Feb. 2, 1943 2,365,096 Mothwurf Dec. 12, 1944 2,368,386 Tarbox Jan. 30, 1945 2,416,534 Naumann Feb. 25, 1947 2,416,535 Naumann Feb. 25, 1947 

1. APPARATUS FOR HANDLING THEREAS COMPRISING A ROTATABLE HOLLOW MEMBER HAVING A PLURALITY OF AXIALLY SPACED PERIPHERAL ZONES ABOUT THE SURFACE OF WHICH A THREAD IS ADAPTED TO BE CARRIED IN SUCCESSION THROUGH A PLURALITY OF AXIALLY SPACED CONVOLUTIONS ENTERING AT ONE END OF EACH ZONE AND BEING DISCHARGED AT THE OTHER END THEREOF, MEANS FOR ROTATING THE MEMBER, SAID MEMBER HAVING A GROUP OF OPENINGS EXTENDING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY IN A BAND ABOUT THE MEMBER BETWEEN TWO OF SAID ZONES THAT ARE ADJACENT EACH OTHER, SEPARATE MEANS ADJACENT SAID TWO PERIPHERAL ZONES OF THE MEMBER FOR APPLYING DIFFERENT LIQUIDS TO THE THREAD CONVOLUTIONS CARRIED ABOUT THE RESPECTIVE ZONES OF THE MEMBER, SAID MEMBER HAVING A GROUP OF OPENINGS EXTENDING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY IN A BAND ABOUT THE MEMBER AT A POSITION ADJACENT THE THREAD CONVOLUTION ENTRANCE END OF THE AFORESAID TWO ZONES, SAID MEMBER ALSO HAVING ANOTHER GROUP OF OPENINGS EXTENDING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY IN A BAND ABOUT THE MEMBER AT A POSITION ADJACENT THE THREAD CONVOLUTION DISCHARGE END OF THE AFORESAID TWO ZONES, AND MEANS FOR INTRODUCING A GASEOUS MEDIUM INTO THE MEMBER AT GREATER THAN ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE AND FOR FORCING SAID ME-
 6. A METHOD OF TREATING THREADS AND THE LIKE WITH LIQUIDS COMPRISING PASSING THE THREAD CONTINOUSLY IN SUCCESSION THROUGH A PLURALITY OF AXIALLY SPACED CONVOLUTIONS ABOUT A PLURALITY OF AXIALLY SPACED PERIPHERAL ZONES OF A ROTATABLE MEMBER, APPLYING A DIFFERENT TREATING LIQUID TO THE AN AXIAL ZONE OF THE MEMBER, REMOVING SURPLUS LIQUID FROM THE THREAD AS IT PASSES THROUGH A BAND ON EACH SIDE OF SAID ZONE BY BLOWING THE LIQUID, IN THE LIQUID STATE, OUTWARDLY FROM THE CONVOLUTIONS, APPLYING A DIFFERENT TREATING LIQUID TO THE THREAD AS IT PASSES THROUGH A PLURALITY OF SAID CONVOLUTIONS IN ANOTHER ZONE BEYOND AND ADJACENT THE AFORESAID ZONE, AND THEN REMOVING SURPLUS LIQUID FROM THE THREAD AS IT PASSES BEYOND SAID LATTER ZONE BY BLOWING THE LIQUID IN THE LIQUID STATE OUTWARDLY FROM THE CONVOLUTIONS. 